“Political Correctness” hinders religious expression     12/20/2001
By Tanya L. Green, J.D.

The Christmas season brings back sweet memories of school festivities such as parties, “Secret Santa,” and productions featuring traditional Christian songs, such as “O Holy Night” (my favorite), “Silent Night” and “Away in a Manger.” We even sang songs about Chanukah.

But now the “Politically-Correct” crowd has gone to great lengths to prohibit such time-honored songs from being sung and religious symbols from being displayed in the public schools. All in the name of “religious neutrality” and “diversity,” of course. But as the following incidents show, the tactics are hardly neutral or diverse:

• The principal of The Thomas Jefferson Magnet School of Humanities in Flushing, New York, issued a memo encouraging teachers to bring to school religious symbols that represented Muslim, Kwanzaa and Jewish religions. She did not mention Christianity;
• A Frederick County, Maryland, school employee was prohibited from handing out Christmas cards with a Christian message;
• A fourth-grader in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, was prohibited from giving his classmates religious Christmas cards;
• Some school administrators have prohibited students from making Christmas and Chanukah presents, nor can they decorate trees or light menorahs.

In the more extreme cases, even the greeting “Merry Christmas” is prohibited. “Season’s Greetings” or “Happy Holidays” is the preferred salutation. “Christmas break” is now “winter break.”

“Everyone wants the presents and time off from work during this season,” said Concerned Women for America Director of Communications Wendy Wright, “but they don’t want to acknowledge the reason for the season, which is Jesus Christ.”

Bill O’Reilly, host of the Fox News Channel show, The O’Reilly Factor, and author of the book, No Spin Zone, calls all this “obscene.”

“It is a blight upon our country,” he said. “It is un-American, and offensive to those of us who cherish liberty. … There is a point where political correctness becomes an acid that erodes freedom. We have reached that point with these assaults on Christmas” (World Net Daily, 12/19/01).

“Obscene” might be a bit strong. Rather, some school administrators fail to understand that the U.S. Constitution permits Christmas celebrations in public schools.

“We believe much of this is the result of misunderstanding or lack of knowledge about the law surrounding separation of church and state,” said Tom Prichard, president of the Northstar Legal Center of the Minnesota Family Council/Minnesota Family Institute.

Here are some basic guidelines for Christmas observances in public schools, according to the Northstar Legal Center:

• Christmas carols are permitted for “the advancement of the students’ cultural and religious heritage” (Florey v. Sioux Falls School District);
• Religious symbols, such as the Nativity scene, crosses, menorahs and the Star of David are permitted, provided they are used as teaching aids and temporary in usage;
• Teachers may read portions of the Bible that relate to the Christmas story for the purpose of providing a literary or historical context for the Christmas season, but not for religious or devotional purposes;
• Christmas trees are permitted because they are a secular symbol of Christmas.

Public schools are not Christmas-free zones. And students are constitutionally protected in wishing their fellow classmates a “Merry Christmas!” So enjoy this sacred time of year, everyone!

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